a few answers about losing 131lbs... and counting

This is exactly what I needed!! I've been killing myself over the last 2 weeks, and not one pound difference on the scale. I know I'm dealing with a plateau, and the info I read here is great! I actually researched a plateau, and this was the best info I found. I was planning on trying to do a forced plateau, just never heard from someone who actually did a forced plateau. So nice to hear it from the horses mouth!

I had no idea that I get such a great response from other going through the same thing. Believe me I "failed" sooo many previous diets because of plateaus and I thought there was something wrong with me and then I would get frustrated and eat. This time around I decide to just keep going and that's when I discovered my "pattern" and realize I was being too hard on my body and endo-system to keep expecting a constant drop. So I allow for them to happen and then I became proactive about them happening on my terms... hence my forced plateau.

And each time I would have remarkable drops and in weigh and body changing too. Because each re-surge brought about body contouring too.

-i never eat low-fat or fat-free (too much crap)

by this i mean i eat REAL BUTTER, REAL CHEESE (good ones), REAL FULL FAT GREEK YOGURT, REAL HEAVY CREAM... etc

when they take out the fat they add sodium, articifical sweetners, sugar, tons of chemical flavorings,

it's better to weigh/measure portions of real food than just trust that "fat-free" stuff.

Thank you so much for your advice! I trully agree with the plateau thing!
But when comes to the fat I agree and disagree. What about milk? Do you drink whole milk, or eat whole cottage cheese? I have an extremily and serious case of high cholesterol (food and genetics) and triglicerides (only food : ( ) so I do have to watch fats way more closely than most of people. I do have to drink skin milk, 2% cheese and lowfat cottage cheese, and it would be very difficult to go without light laughing cow triangles ; ))). The yogurt as you said I can live without unless I buy the greek kind. I do stay away from heavy creams and some fat free stuff b/c they are gross to my taste.
And yes, real butter is way better for our bodies than margarine!!! Even tough I have to keep myself away from bad fats and animal fats...

That's the cool thing about being our own people is knowing what works for you. As long as you adapt and modify to your body that's all that matters. I do also use FLAXSEED oil it's excellent for the body and also COCONUT oil which now thanks to Dr. Oz the masses are learning the benefits of. As I post regarding the "real" stuff verses fat free stuff, I hold myself accountable by keeping and eye on it and logging it in.

Yeah for your victories!!!

Beautiful post. Thanks for sharing

Now I need to ask you the question everyone growls about: Did you eat your exercise calories?? :bigsmile:

By the way, you have a PRETTY FACE THEN, NOW and FOREVER!!

:flowerforyou:

Oh one more thing - I noted that I usually ate them a week before/during my period. I think my body at that time needed the extra fuel. It doesn't happen every time but I like the reassurance that I can have it if I need it.

I've been asked - how long do I do my strategy?

I do it for anywhere from 3 weeks to 5 weeks. Then I'm itching to start losing again.
I guess it's like the food equivalent of "intervals" setting on the treadmill or elliptical. Lol

This is such an awesome post!!! I am just doing the same thing right now. My body has really slowed down and I decided (just yesterday) to give it a break. I was only only going to do one month (all of february) but now I wonder if i should go longer? anyway I was hoping after my forced plateau that when I returned to weight loss mode that the lbs would come off a bit quicker.


thanks for sharing your experience with us!!

I think the reason this works for me was since I had over 100lbs to lose my body needed to readjust to the new weight and my mind needed the freedom of guilt-free eating. "Guilt" is the worst additive in any food lol.

Also when I do go back to the losing steps I do it really clean-
Egg white omelets, tons of water, tons of water veggies (ie cucumbers,) lots of dark leafy greens, lots of asparagus, lots of grapefuit, I make home made soups. Did I mention TONS of water, good sleep, lots of fish, chicken, lean beefs (I use ground meats only in the break because the fat is higher), salads w/o dressing or oil (I slice apples or thinly slice peaches, or blueberries/raspberry for flavor) I stick to mixed green salads rather than iceberg. I sometime use rice wine vinegar (the one without sugar). I use different spices to cook with so my food is NEVER boring...boredom is a baaaAd word. And I'm a helleva cook (self-pat on the back lol)

I use the George Foreman a lot but now I got the nuWAVE oven for myself at Christmas love it.

I also use glass containers rather than plastic in the microwave.

I pack food for the day to take with me.

Do most of my own cooking. If I have to grab a meal, it's always from El Pollo Loco (I love that place and sometimes I think I love them too much).

Ok that's all I can think of now... If any thoughts/strategies pop in my head I'll post.

Great post and congratulations on your weight loss! I have actually made my goal back in November 2010 and am now working on learning to maintain (I'm now 8 lbs under which is OK). The only thing I differ on is sleep. I try to get a full 8 hours every day. After all, you can't be eating while you sleep.

Too funny "can't be eating while you sleep" . I do aim for 8 and average around 7. There have been times I'm gone to bed super early too and I figure my body needed it.

Congratulations to you too. I am excited about reaching my goal.